Russia launches third stage of non-strategic nuclear drills
The Russian Armed Forces have kicked off the third stage of drills focused on the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, stating that the Central and Southern Military Districts and personnel of the Aerospace Forces are to be involved in the exercises.
The drills, announced in May, were a response to what the Kremlin has described as the West’s continued escalatory actions and to NATO encroachment on Russia’s borders, which has prompted the need for Russia to maintain combat readiness. Previous rounds were held in conjunction with the Belarusian Armed Forces.
During the latest round of exercises, Russian servicemen will work out the combat training tasks of obtaining “special training ammunition” for the Iskander-M missile systems, equipping the ammunition to launch vehicles and covertly deploying to designated positions to prepare for electronic launches, the Defense Ministry explained.
The drills will also have personnel of the Aerospace Forces aviation units practice equipping aviation weapons with special combat units and flying to designated patrol areas.
The ministry stated that the current stage of the exercise is focused on keeping Russian military personnel and equipment prepared for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in order to carry out combat missions.
Previously, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had pointed out that the drills being carried out by Russia’s forces are “normal practice” and are necessary for maintaining Russia’s combat readiness at “the proper level.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin also stated last month that Russia intends to update its nuclear arsenal, given that it is the primary guarantor of national security. The Russian leader has warned that Russia would use all means available to defend itself should the state’s existence ever be at stake.
At the same time, Putin has repeatedly noted that any conflict involving the use of nuclear weapons would have dire consequences for humanity and has stressed that Russia is not “brandishing” its arsenal and is instead hoping that “it will never come” to an actual nuclear exchange between Moscow and the West.
